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Coffee lovers had to put in a bit more effort than just pressing a button on an electric grinder or coffee maker. Manually grinding beans with a hand-cranked grinder was the order of the day.
5) Lighting Oil Lamps or Gas Lamps
Before electricity became widespread, households relied on oil or gas lamps for lighting, which involved daily tasks such as trimming wicks, filling the lamps with oil, or ensuring the gas supply was adequate and safe.
6) Sharpening Kitchen Knives
While many people still sharpen knives today, doing so in the past was a more frequent chore. This is due to the wider availability of cheaper, easily replaceable, and longer-lasting knife sets.
7) Hand-Cranking Ice Cream
Making ice cream was once a labor-intensive process involving a hand-cranked machine that required a good deal of muscle power and patience to deliver the sweet treat.
8) Ironing With A Charcoal Iron
Ironing used to be even more of a chore than it can be today, with irons heated by placing hot coals or metal inserts warmed by the fire. These irons were heavy and difficult to handle.
9) Tending to a Wood-Burning Stove or Fireplace
In many homes, keeping the stove or fireplace burning was a vital daily chore, important for both cooking and heating. This involved chopping wood, starting and maintaining fires, and cleaning ashes afterwards.
10) Pumping Water
Before indoor plumbing became standard, fetching water often meant hand-pumping it from a well or hauling it from a nearby source, then heating it for use for cooking, cleaning, or bathing.
These chores not only remind us of the physical demands of everyday life in the past but also highlight the comforts and conveniences the modern world takes for granted. While some may still perform a version of these tasks for tradition or preference, for the most part, they have been left behind as relics of a bygone era.
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